Offense eluded the Carolina Mudcats Monday as they were blanked by the Winston-Salem Dash by a 3-0 score. The Mudcats were held to just four hits in the defeat due largely to a phenomenal start from Winston-Salem’s Terance Marin (2-0, 2.37). Marin allowed just two hits and one walk in 8.0 shutout innings while striking out four.

Thanks to an early offensive surge, the Carolina Mudcats held on to defeat the Winston-Salem Dash 5-4 Sunday at BB&T Ballpark. After the Dash jumped ahead with a run in the bottom of the first, the Mudcats stormed back with four runs of their own in the top of the second to grab a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The WAR Room is back again, bringing you the 2014 advanced stats for every Cleveland minor leaguer. After looking at the hitters last week, today we focus on the pitchers, including how well Zach McAllister is pitching in Columbus and what it means. Also inside today's edition of The WAR Room is a look at three Akron relievers who are making some real noise, a breakdown of the disconnect between a few Mudcats starters' ERA and FIP, and much more. Join Jim Piascik as he takes you into The WAR Room.

The Carolina Mudcats used a late rally to down the Winston-Salem Dash, 11-9, on Saturday night. Down by two runs going into the eighth, the Mudcats used some timely hitting to level the game and ultimately take the lead.

Behind another gem from Ryan Merritt (8-2, 1.58), the Carolina Mudcats avoided the series sweep Friday by doubling up the Salem Red Sox 4-2. Merritt earned his league-leading eighth win of the season in a commanding 7.1 inning start in which allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits. The lefty didn’t issue a walk and struck out five as he helped the Mudcats snap a four-game losing skid.

In today’s edition of Minor Happenings, the IBI's Tony Lastoria takes a look at the resurgence of High-A Carolina outfielder Luis Rodriguez and what has helped him turn his season around. He also talks about Double-A Akron right-handed pitcher Joseph Colon’s improvements and rise in ranks, provides lots of quotes from Low-A Lake County pitching coach Rigo Beltran on several of his pitchers, plus provides insight and news on players such as Francisco Lindor, Yandy Diaz, Ben Heller and more.

It is easy to get caught up in recent events and become prisoners of the moment. Really, it just seems like human nature to overvalue the most recent thing to happen. Each year, it happens to a certain number of players: those with hot Aprils seem to have figured something out and those with cold ones seem to have taken a step back. By and large, however, these early season performances go back to normal, which is exactly what is happening with Ronny Rodriguez. Join Jim Piascik as he breaks down Rodriguez's season, Bobby Bradley's debut to date, and much more as he takes you Around the Farm.

The Carolina Mudcats had their sights set on extra innings going into the bottom of the ninth, but the Salem Red Sox came up with a run to take the win, 2-1. Carolina Starter Shawn Morimando pitched a strong six innings of four-hit, one-run ball with five strikeouts. Clayton Cook took the loss while Matty Ott got the win, and the blown save, for Salem.

Earlier this week we posted the seven Indians prospects who have improved their stock the most, but just like there are two sides to every coin and a yin to a yang, that means there have been some prospects who have hurt their prospect value this season. The IBI's Tony Lastoria looks at those seven players who have struggled and uses insight and information gained from Indians personnel, scouts and his own observations to explain their struggles and what they need to do to get back on track.

One bounce of the ball can be all it takes to change everything. Top prospect Francisco Lindor experienced this firsthand Wednesday as a routine double play grounder took a bad hop, bouncing up and hitting him in the face. Lindor seems to have avoided being struck in the eye, a potentially positive development, though he is still getting checked out. Join Jim Piascik as takes you Around the Farm, reporting from Canal Park and bringing you the rest of the action on a busy night in the system.

The Carolina Mudcats outhit the Salem Red Sox, 8-7, Wednesday, but still took a loss, 5-1. The Mudcats were led by Luigi Rodriguez who had two hits, including a double, and scored the team's only run. Adum Plutko gave up just two hits in five innings, but took the loss on two runs with three walks allowed.

The Carolina Mudcats couldn’t have hoped for a better start to the second half, as they won three of their first four games. However, the team dropped two straight to end the week to bring their record to 3-3 in the second half and 32-41 overall. The IBI's Zachary Francis recaps the week for the Mudcats and also catches up with pitching prospect Josh Martin...

The Carolina Mudcats again fell to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans after allowing six runs across the fourth and seventh innings. Even though Carolina managed 11 hits, compared to seven for Myrtle Beach, the team still couldn't put a run on the board. Starter Cole Sulser struck out seven in six innings but still took his seventh loss of the season.

As we are at the unofficial halfway point of the minor league season with the Single-A second half underway, short season ball having started and the Double-A and Triple-A All Star games looming, now is a good time to focus in on the Indians prospects who have really improved their stock to the industry not just with their performance but more importantly their development this season. The IBI's Tony Lastoria has talked to lots of Indians personnel and scouts from other teams and in those conversations came up with seven players who have really jumped up in value this season.

While the Carolina Mudcats managed to force extra innings, 10 hits proved too few as they lost to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 6-4, after giving up to runs in the top of the 10th. Four different Mudcats totaled two hits while Luigi Rodriguez tallied a home run and a triple. Carolina starter Michael Peoples pitched four innings, but D.J. Brown got the loss after 5.2 innings in relief.

Behind an offensive explosion from Yandy Diaz and a dominating start from Ryan Merritt (7-2, 1.61), the Carolina Mudcats cruised to a 6-1 win over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Sunday. Diaz went 2-for-4 with four RBI’s, including three on his key seventh inning double that sealed the victory for Carolina.

The WAR Room is back again, bringing you the 2014 advanced stats for every Cleveland minor leaguer. After looking at the pitchers last week, today we focus on the hitters, in particular Jesus Aguilar and Jose Ramirez pushing to make it back to the majors. Though limited roster spots in Cleveland (and injury in the case of Ramirez) may keep the pair in Triple-A, neither is being held back by their performance. Join Jim Piascik as he breaks down the hitters throughout the system and takes you into The WAR Room.

When it comes to prospects, sometimes the divide between one who makes it and one who does not just comes down to health. Roberto Perez and LeVon Washington are both examples of this, as they are both in the midst of big years after injury-riddled 2013 seasons. Now that both are healthy, Perez and Washington are raking, as they did Saturday. Join Arthur Kinney as he writes about Perez and his future, Washington and his potential rise, and much more as he takes you Around the Farm.

The Carolina Mudcats and Shawn Morimando had everything working on their way to a 12-2 demolition of the Frederick Keys at Five County Stadium. Starter Shawn Morimando (7-2, 3.12) earned the win after pitching 6.0 innings in which he allowed only two earned runs off of six hits.

The Carolina Mudcats blew a pair of late-inning leads Friday as they fell to the Frederick Keys 8-6 in ten innings. The Mudcats held a three-run lead going into the eighth and a two-run advantage to begin the ninth, but Carolina’s bullpen just could not close the door blowing two separate save opportunities.

Available IBI Books

The 2014 Cleveland Indians Baseball Insider book featuring the Indians' Top 100 Prospects and more is now available. Also, previous editions from 2008-2012 are also available at a discounted rate. Just click on the book image for more information. Thanks again for all the support!